Joystiq

Warner Bros. makes cuts across Seattle studios

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST

A WB Games representative this evening confirmed to Joystiq that the publisher has "had to make reductions" across its Seattle-based studios this week. The layoffs were apparently a result of the publisher's "continual review of our business operations and fluctuating market conditions," and no specific studios were named in the comment.

We first heard of potential firings at the company from 3D Realms co-founder George Broussard's Twitter account, which puts the cuts at "60ish" folks in the studio's Seattle studios (which includes Monolith Productions, Snowblind Studios and Surreal Software). The latest release from WB Games Seattle was this week's Lord of the Rings: War in the North.

Warner Bros. makes cuts across Seattle studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: This is canceled: This is Vegas

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST

CVG reports it has a "cast iron source" claiming This is Vegas has finally been buried out in the desert somewhere. The title was under development at Surreal Software for Midway before the publisher folded. The property was then scooped up by Warner Bros. Interactive, but apparently met its (inevitable) conclusion when the developer was quietly shut down in June.

The site's source estimates Midway spent around $43 million on the project before it was sold to WB, elaborating, "The title was on the schedule for release late last year - but still needed another eight months to a year to finish with a studio burn rate of $250,000 per month." We've contacted WBIE for confirmation that This is Vegas really has played its last card and busted out.

Gallery: This is Vegas

Rumor: This is canceled: This is Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warner Bros. lays off staff from Monolith, Snowblind, Surreal

Justin McElroy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:05:00 EST

Apparently, Warner Bros. didn't get the memo that layoffs are so 2009. The publisher has released an unspecified number of staffers from Seattle developers Monolith Productions, Snowblind Studios and Surreal Software, perhaps best known for the FEAR series, Death Tank and The Suffering, respectively.

The publisher told Gamasutra, "we had a few too many resources in certain functions and some positions were eliminated in this process." Seems logical enough, but that doesn't make it any less of a bitter pill for those affected. Here's hoping everyone lands on their feet.

Warner Bros. lays off staff from Monolith, Snowblind, Surreal originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh craps! This is Vegas delayed until 2009

Christopher Grant — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

Not saying we were taking bets on this but, surprising exactly no one, Midway's "lifestyle action experience" This is Vegas has been delayed until 2009 for all three platforms in development. Midway tells GameSpot that developer Surreal Software - the team behind The Suffering games - is being "given the development time needed in order to make This is Vegas a triple-A videogame and a must-have for all PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC owners." The game will be playable at E3 in a couple weeks so we'll be sure to let you know how close it is to a "must-have" then.

Gallery: This is Vegas

Oh craps! This is Vegas delayed until 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is a trailer for This is Vegas

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Video

If you've been curious as to what sort of gameplay "an open world, lifestyle action experience" such as This is Vegas would entail, you'd best head past the break and view the game's debut trailer. Judging by the brief clip, we're dealing with a role-playing game -- one where you've thrown all your ability points into douchebaggery, hooliganism and cartoonish uppercutting. Also, you'll be playing as Attack of the Show's Kevin Pereira.

Not that you need any more incentive to visit virtual Vegas, but we think one Gametrailers user summed it up better than anybody in Midway's marketing department ever could: "its the same company that maded the suffering its surreal i want this game specialy because there is hot girls."

Gallery: This is Vegas

Continue reading This is a trailer for This is Vegas

This is a trailer for This is Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This ... is ... trailer! Debut trailer for This is Vegas

Xav de Matos — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

If the images released a few days ago weren't enough to whet your appetite for the upcoming action title This Is Vegas, then try this debut trailer on for size. The footage looks early but the Vegas hook is sure to draw people in, especially those who think they can fool Gil Grissom.

The open world action is slated to hit the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this winter from Midway's internal studio Surreal Software, makers of The Suffering and Drakan: The Ancients' Gates. By the way, no one fools Gil Grissom.

This ... is ... trailer! Debut trailer for This is Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Is Vegas announced, insert Spartan joke here

Xav de Matos — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Game announcements

Ah, reality. It can get pretty boring sometimes. Especially if you live in a place like Tulsa, Oklahoma (sorry Richard). Thankfully Midway knows your life is as boring as clicking refresh on X3F all day and announced This is Vegas. Combining Grand Theft Auto, Second Life and, well, Vegas, This is Vegas allows players to experience the wild desert wonderland and find out what people mean when they say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." According to the official site, This is Vegas puts players in the role of a business man visiting the strip who will have to rise to the top and create a vast empire by reigniting the adult playground, drive the fastest cars and prove your power with weapons or via fisticuffs. The open world playground is being developed by the in house Midway team at Surreal Software and is slated for a Winter 2008 release on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Also, always double-down on 11.

[Via Joystiq]

This Is Vegas announced, insert Spartan joke here originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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